Auto-license holder



P. J. SPEICHER. v AUTO LICENSE HOLDER.

UNITED STATES PAUL J. SPEICHER, O1 GAS'ION, INDIANA.

AUTO-LICENSE HOLDER.

Speciflcation cf Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed October 25, 1920. Serie! No 419,270.

T0 all whom zt mag concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL J. SPEICHER, a citizen 'of the United States,residing at Gaston, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto-License Holders, ofWhich the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to license plate holders and particularly t0 thatdass of holders for adjustably securing metallie license plates such asare issued in the various States.

One of the objects of m invention is the provision of an adjustalelicense; plate holder including protective means whereby the edges of'the platze may be protected and at the sametime constitute a guide foran adjusting clamp.

Another object 0f my inventidn resides in a license plate holdercomprising a pair of complementary clamping members and means foradjustably mounting said member with respect to a license plate.

An'other object 0f my invention is direcbed t0 an adjustable licenseplate holder comprising a pair of complementary elamping members andmeans for transversely adjusting said clamping members with respect to asupport.

Witl1' these objects in view and others which will be manifest andsuggested as the natura and urpose 0f my invention are revealed in t efollowing specification and drawing wherein I have shown a practical,yet preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 is a view showing the license plate and holder assembled.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the license plate when removed.

Fig. 3 is a section taken' on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the clamp means f01 the plate.

Fig. 5 is a detail of an end protector.

Numeral 1 designates a common form of rectangular license plate now ingeneral use 0n automobiles and 2, 3, removable substantially Uhapedintegral protecting members adapted to confine and protect the ends unda portion 0f the t0p and bottom 0f the licen se plate und also act asguides for the clamping elements subsequently to be described. Each 0fthe said end rnembersdefines an upper and lower gr0ove 4 5 and an endgroove 6 whereby the plate is securely held therein the corners 8, 9being cut away as shown in Fig. 5 contiguous t0 the enlar ed frontsurfaces 10, 11.

n integral t0p clamping plate 12 and an integral bottom clamping plate13 are removably and adjustably fastened to each other by a pair 0fscrews 14, 15 passing through alined apertures in the outwardlyextending flange 16 of the upper clamping plate and the inwardlyextending flange 17 of the lower elamping platze, su1table nuts 18, 19being screw threaded 011 the said screws into locking engagement withthe under surface 01 the flange 17 0f the lower clamping member. Thevertical wall 20 of the top elamping plate is bent up on itself to forma U-shaped groove 21, slightly larger than the groove 4 ofthe endmembers so that the same may easily slide therein when it is desired 130insert 01 remove the license plate from the clamping members. Thevertieal faee 22 of the lower clamping plate 13 whieh also constitutesan attaching surface is bent'inwardly as at 24 then downvvardly as at 25and then again upwardly as at 26 t0 define a U-shaped groove 27 slightlylarger than the groove 5 of the end plates 111 order' to slidablyreceive the same.

It will now be seen that after the end protecting members are placed 0nthe lieense plate and the serews loosened the plate may be slid in thegrooves until it is centered and then the screws tightened to firmlyseat the said plate between the clarhps. I'n this manner the entire topand bottom edges and also the ends 0f the license p1ate are protectedfrorn being broken 01 mutilated.

A flat plate 28 provided With elongated slots 29, 30 at each endthereofbears against the outer side of the face 22, adjusting bolts andfastening nuts 31, 32 adjustably securing the said lovverplate 13 120 asuitable brackefi or support 33 by a set screvv 34 pass ing through anaperture 35 and bearing v stricted to the precise elements shown exceptin so fa1 as such limitations a1e specified in the subjeci; matter beingclaimed.

What I claim is: l. In a plate holder of the dass described, adjustable,sectional protective end members entirely embracing the ends and aportion of the top and bottom of a plate, an adjustably mountedsectional supporting clamp having opposed, transverse grooves thereinforsaid protective members and said p1ate, a vertical screw threadedholt connecting said clarnp sections and a locking holt engaging thelower vertical Wall of the clamp for 'positively locking said clampsections.

2. In a plate holder of the dass described,

complementary U-shaped grooved, adjustable protective members entirelyembracing the ends and a portion of the top und bottorr 1 of a plate, anadjustable, supporting clamp for said protective members and plate, saidclamp comprising an upper flunge, grooVed strap and a lower fiangedgrooved strap, adjusting elements passing through alined apertures inthe opposed flanges of the upper und lower straps, und transverselyadjustable means for supporting the clamp and its plate from a vehicle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

PAUL J. SPEICHER.

